Chapter 71: Dispelling Demons

Chapter 71: Dispelling Demons

As expected, a small whirlwind formed, and within a few breaths, it spun faster and faster.

The whirlwind then split into two, four, eight, and sixteen, filling the view with countless whirlwinds.

Although the whirlwinds split in sequence, their might showed no signs of diminishing, far surpassing the old matchmaker's magical abilities.

It was just after noon, and the sun's warmth was gentle.

In an instant, dried leaves and pebbles were swept up, and over a dozen whirlwinds swirled around, coming and going.

Meng Yuan's heart grew calmer. Although the whirlwinds were strange, their power was indeed ordinary. At most, they could obscure one's vision, providing an opportunity for an ambush.

"Red Maiden, assist me!" Wolf Two roared.

"Go!" Several whirlwinds rushed towards Wolf Two, and then his tail moved, leaping into one of the whirlwinds in front of him.

Meng Yuan immediately drew his bow and shot an arrow.

However, several whirlwinds blocked his path, and even his heavy arrows were deflected.

The red fox also seized the chance to leap into a whirlwind, and then the whirlwinds meandered unpredictably, swirling up stones and leaves, making it impossible to tell which whirlwind contained the red fox and Wolf Two.

Over a dozen whirlwinds surged forward, rushing towards Meng Yuan.

Meng Yuan remained calm, drawing and shooting arrows at the whirlwinds one by one.

After firing several arrows, the red fox and Wolf Two jumped from one whirlwind into another, trying to borrow the whirlwind's power.

As the whirlwinds approached within thirty steps, a burst of fire suddenly appeared, igniting the dried leaves within.

In an instant, over a dozen fiery dragons danced, obscuring the view and pressing towards Meng Yuan.

"Little Castration Smith, Wet Nurse said to run if you can't beat them," Xiang Ling whispered, peeking out from Meng Yuan's collar.

"Stay hidden," Meng Yuan instructed, slinging his longbow on his back and unsheathing his sword to advance.

Xiang Ling's head popped out, then quickly retracted.

Meng Yuan unleashed the Feather Dance Technique with full force, his body as light as a feather in the wind, surging forward to meet the dancing flames and whirlwinds.

In just three breaths, he reached his target, and with a surge of true energy throughout his body, he slashed at the whirlwind in front of him.

A clash of golden spears rang out, and even the fiery whirlwind was split apart by his sword. Wolf Two's left arm, along with his shoulder, was severed, leaving him lying on the ground, clearly devoid of any further fighting spirit.

"You've broken through..." Wolf Two exclaimed in shock.

Meng Yuan paid him no heed and turned to slash at the whirlwind behind him, but the red fox was incredibly agile, leaping into another whirlwind with each step.

For a moment, Meng Yuan pursued, the fiery whirlwinds swirled, and the red fox fled.

Despite the chaos, Meng Yuan, empowered by the Feather Dance Technique, was faster than the meandering whirlwinds.

One by one, the whirlwinds were dispersed, and soon only five remained. The red fox, seeing no more opportunities to evade, pinched a seal, merging the five whirlwinds into one and pressing towards Meng Yuan, then turned to flee.

Although the whirlwind was swift, Meng Yuan, adept at the Feather Dance Technique, dodged it. Seeing the red fox had escaped over a dozen zhang away, he swiftly retrieved his bow and fired an arrow, striking her left shoulder, causing her to fall.

Having fought the old matchmaker before, Meng Yuan didn't approach, fearing more bewitching secrets. He stepped on Wolf Two's head.

"Demon magic, bewitching eyes, can't beat a sword's might." Meng Yuan slung his bow and pressed his sword to Wolf Two's neck, "We meet again."

"You fought three alone, defeating them in breaths. High skill, bold heart." A deep voice echoed from nearby.

Meng Yuan followed the voice, spotting an elder twenty steps away.

The man was in his fifties or sixties, with a messy black beard and disheveled clothing. He had a pine wood hairpin in his hair, but it was still somewhat disheveled.

Behind him, he carried a long sword, and his robe was old and dirty, yet it was still recognizable as a Taoist robe.

Meng Yuan quietly observed the man, but he felt that his shabbiness and dishevelment were not due to his long stay in the mountains, but rather, this was his true nature.

For a moment, Meng Yuan couldn't discern whether he was friend or foe. He gripped his sword cautiously, but the man politely bowed and said with a smile, "I saw the flames soaring into the sky from here and knew there was a fight. I came to have a look, but I mean no harm."

Before Meng Yuan could respond, Xiang Ling poked her head out from his collar, her round eyes wide, "Oh! It's the Wet Nurse's lover!"

The old Taoist smiled and returned the bow, and Xiang Ling hurriedly bowed back with her small hands.

"Are you the first disciple of Master Jingxu from Chongxu Temple?" Meng Yuan asked.

The old Taoist smiled and asked, "Do you know my master?" He was clearly pleased to be recognized by the name Jingxu.

"I am Meng Yuan, a disciple of Master Ying. Last time, I stayed at your esteemed temple for a long time and gained much benefit," Meng Yuan replied with a smile.

"So you're a disciple of Master Ying. My apologies for my rudeness," the old Taoist laughed and bowed again.

Meng Yuan could only return the bow. He had previously inquired about this senior brother from Chongxu Temple with Zhao Jingsheng, who had only good things to say about his senior brother, never a bad word.

Now that he met him, Meng Yuan felt that this senior brother from Chongxu Temple was rather ordinary and quite worldly. He was also very polite.

Zhao Jingsheng had spoken highly of his senior brother, saying that he carried a long sword and went out to slay demons at night, exuding a heroic aura.

However, from Meng Yuan's observation, the man was clearly scholarly and lacked any trace of heroism, except for being a bit disheveled, he seemed like a decent gentleman.

"Why don't you change your clothes?" Xiang Ling stretched her neck out, staring at Jingxu in bewilderment. "The Wet Nurse said that whether it's new or old clothes, they must be kept clean." She tugged at her small bundle and headscarf, indicating that she was very clean.

"I didn't bring any spare clothes," Jingxu smiled and explained, showing courtesy even to little Xiang Ling.

"Then how did you come here?" Xiang Ling asked again.

"I came to slay demons," Jingxu smiled amicably, without a hint of the ferocity one would expect from a demon slayer.

"..." Xiang Ling was a bit dazed. She nestled in Meng Yuan's collar, turned her head, and stared at him in astonishment.

"I've heard some things about you from Senior Brother Zhao Jingsheng," Meng Yuan said with a smile.

"Since you're a disciple of Master Ying, we're not strangers. There's no need for formalities," Jingxu took two steps forward and smiled gently. "Currently, I travel under my layman name, Li Wei Zhen. If you don't mind, please call me Brother Li."

"Brother Li!" Meng Yuan and Xiang Ling said in unison.

"You two can talk, but please don't step on my head while you're at it," Wolf Two spoke, despite having one of his arms severed.

Meng Yuan indeed moved his foot politely, sheathing his sword.

"You're not at the temple reciting sutras. Why did you come to the mountains to slay demons? I won't be able to find anyone to recite sutras when I go back to burn paper offerings!" Xiang Ling asked.

"Sigh, I couldn't continue reciting. Demons are everywhere, even in my heart. But I don't have the ability to subdue heart demons, so I can only come here and try to slay the demons in these mountains," Li Wei Zhen explained.

Hearing these words, Xiang Ling stared with her big round eyes, one small hand scratching her head as she turned and looked at Meng Yuan in bewilderment.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end